Pod Save America

As the crisis in the Middle East deepens, the Republican presidential candidates respond with their best: Donald Trump praises Hezbollah, Tim Scott says Biden "has blood on his hands," and Ron DeSantis tries to make it about the southern border—the American one. Meanwhile, the House GOP still can't agree on a Speaker, "MAGA Mama Bear" Kari Lake enters the critical Arizona Senate race, and George Santos and Bob Menendez each get stunning new indictments.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Join the World-Wide Digital Experience "Pod Save America Live from DC" on October 19 at 8 PM ET with Co-Host Symone Sanders and Special Guests Senator John Fetterman, Chef Jose Andres, and Jennifer Carroll Foy. Tickets: https://www.moment.co/psa  

Israel has begun a full-scale siege of the Gaza Strip after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday. Republican politicians wasted no time blaming Biden for the attack, despite his administration offering full support for Israel. Meanwhile, the race to be the next Speaker of the House kicks off a busy week. RFK Jr. announces he's dropping out of the 2024 Democratic Primary and launching a third-party bid for president. Later, former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger stops by to talk about the chaos his old colleagues in the House have created. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Join the World-Wide Digital Experience "Pod Save America Live from DC" on October 19 at 8 PM ET with Co-host Symone Sanders and Special Guests Senator John Fetterman, Chef Jose Andres, and Jennifer Carroll Foy. Tickets: https://www.moment.co/psa 

Former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson joins the show to talk about testifying against her former boss, her new book, "Enough," and the current disarray in the House. Then, Dan and Jon talk about the race for a new Speaker. How did we get here, what happens next, and is it somehow all Democrats' fault? At least one Republican is planning to nominate Donald Trump—even as his legal dramas mount. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.  Join the World-Wide Digital Experience "Pod Save America Live from DC" on October 19 at 8 PM ET with Co-host Symone Sanders and Special Guests Senator John Fetterman, Chef Jose Andres, and Jennifer Carroll Foy.Tickets: https://www.moment.co/psa

Congress avoids a government shutdown after Kevin McCarthy caves to Democrats at the last possible minute—and now Matt Gaetz is trying to strip McCarthy of the speakership as a result. Will Democrats bail McCarthy out? Donald Trump begins his fraud trial with the unique legal strategy of threatening the judge, Joe Biden frames the 2024 election as extremism vs. democracy, and Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler as California's newest Senator. Later, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal joins the show to talk about House Democrats' strategy as the Speaker drama unfolds. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Join the World-Wide Digital Experience "Pod Save America Live from DC" on October 19 at 8 PM ET with Co-host Symone Sanders and Special Guests Senator John Fetterman, Chef Jose Andres, and Jennifer Carroll Foy.Tickets: https://www.moment.co/psa

Seven Republicans take the stage for the second primary debate, and they all manage to lose to the guy who isn't there. Jon, Jon, and Dan react to all the canned lines, missed opportunities, and—yes—awkward sex jokes that made this a night to forget. Meanwhile, the front-runner grovels for the UAW endorsement in an appearance at a non-union shop—just a day after being found liable for massive fraud in New York. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Trump goes on a crazy spree and demands a shutdown, suggests that America’s top general deserves to be executed, and promises to investigate media outlets if he wins. Meanwhile, his GOP opponents who trail him by more than 40 points prepare to duke it out on the debate stage for the second time. The Washington Post releases an outlier poll that triggers a freakout. House Republicans turn on each other as they bring the government closer to a shutdown. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez gets indicted for bribery and corruption. And later, Tommy talks to Kal Penn about the youth vote and Hollywood writer’s strike. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

With the first primaries still months away, Trump skips more debates and pivots to a general election strategy with a primetime speech to autoworkers in Michigan and an attempt to cast himself as more moderate on abortion. Will it work? Then, Politico Congressional correspondent Daniella Diaz joins the show to help make sense of the GOP’s shutdown shit show. Finally, the most divisive topic on Capitol Hill this week: what John Fetterman is allowed to wear. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

The right dials up the heat on Donald Trump as he continues to make potentially incriminating statements. Republicans inch closer to a government shutdown. Mitt Romney takes his Senate exit stage left. Then, Michigan Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin joins the show to discuss the United Auto Workers' strike and her campaign for Senate. And Lauren Boebert is on an "apology tour" after the groping and vaping episode that got her booted from a performance of "Beetlejuice."For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

With just two weeks left to avoid a government shutdown, Kevin McCarthy opens an impeachment inquiry against President Biden, even though Republicans have provided zero evidence that Biden did anything wrong. Trump outlines his radical vision for a potential second term as the President unloads on "Maganomics." Then, Representative Jamie Raskin joins to break down the House Democrats' counterattack plan on impeachment. And: strap-ons in the Senate! How a hearing on book bans turned X-rated.

Trump shows up in Iowa to flip burgers before a football game, but his allies worry that photo-ops won't be enough to win the Hawkeye State. Republicans in Wisconsin prepare to impeach a judge before she's heard her first case, while their counterparts in DC lurch closer to forcing a government shutdown. Then, constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe talks to Lovett about why the 14th Amendment might bar Trump from serving another term, and Hallie Kiefer joins the guys to test out the latest in right-wing classroom propaganda.  For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Does Biden really have an "age problem"—and how should he solve it? Jon and Dan dive into the latest polling to see why Biden is neck and neck with a guy facing 91 felony counts. Plus, Congress is back in session, and their first order of business is—you guessed it—impeachment! Later, Franklin Foer stops by to talk about his exhaustively reported new book on Biden, "The Last Politician."  For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.  

We're off for Labor Day! Please enjoy this exclusive episode of Terminally Online, our new Subscription show and loosest pod here at Crooked Media. Every week Pod Save America hosts are joined by your favorite Crooked producers and staffers to commiserate about being way too online as they make their shows. Get episodes of Terminally Online, ads free Pod Save America and so much more by signing up for Friends of the Pod at crooked.com/friends.

Friend of the Pod Alyssa Mastromonaco joins Dan to discuss the latest impeachment madness from the Kevin McCarthy, the Right's plan to destroy government as we know it, and whether Trump miiiight be exaggerating about being more popular than Michael Jackson. Then, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono joins the show to talk about recovery efforts in Maui, and Alyssa and Dan answer questions from listeners.To support people impacted by the wildfires in Hawaii, visit the Hawaii Community Foundation, The People’s Fund of Maui, and the Maui Humane Society. 

Friend of the pod Addisu Demissie joins to discuss the latest Trump indictment news, including the mugshot seen around the world, Saturday’s horrific hate crime in Florida and Vivek Ramaswamy’s bizarre response, and how abortion access will be a key part of upcoming elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia. Then White House Economic Advisor Dr. Heather Boushey stops by to talk about Bidenomics and how the White House is taking on inflation, student loans, and housing prices. And later, Halle Kiefer quizzes Tommy and Addisu on cringe mugshot merch in a game called The Price Is Wrong, Bitch. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. 

Ramaswamy dominated, DeSantis dodged, Christie attacked the wrong guy—and Trump and Tucker Carlson talked about Jeffrey Epstein. Tommy and Dan recap the lowest lows of the first Republican debate, and Republican strategist Sarah Longwell joins to explain whether any of this matters to real-life voters. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. 

The Republican candidates try to figure out how to debate when the front-runner isn't on stage. The Bulkwark's Tim Miller joins the pod to talk about prep, bad candidates, and whether it's too late for anyone to consolidate the anti-Trump Republican vote. Plus, Vivek Ramaswamy's tennis moves, and our first-ever round of "I'm so Indicted"!For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Show NotesNEWS ROUND UP Des Moines Register: How every GOP presidential candidate performed with likely caucusgoers in new Iowa PollNYT: DeSantis Tweaks His Messaging and Tactics After a Tough Campaign StretchNY Post: DeSantis calls MAGA supporters in Congress ‘listless vessels,’ says Trump didn’t drain swampCNN: Asa Hutchinson says he has qualified for the Republican debateWaPo: What to watch for in the first Republican debateNYT: Democrats, Popcorn in Hand, Root for a Rowdy G.O.P. DebateThe Atlantic: Vivek Ra

Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants prepare to turn themselves in to Fulton County jail. Jen Psaki joins to preview the first debate, laugh about Ron DeSantis’s ongoing struggle to appear human, and talk about how Joe Biden and Democrats should handle Trump’s courtroom campaign. And later, Jon, Dan, and Jen play a round of 2 Takes and a Fake. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Donald Trump gets indicted for the fourth time for racketeering and other felonies in Georgia. Republican presidential candidates descend on the Iowa State Fair. Merrick Garland gives special counsel status to the U.S. Attorney investigating Hunter Biden. RFK Jr. floats a national abortion ban. And later, Representative Ruben Gallego stops by to talk about extreme heat in Arizona, and his campaign to unseat Kyrsten Sinema.

Ohio voters resoundingly defeat a Republican ballot initiative that threatened democracy and abortion rights. Donald Trump is headed back to court while he awaits a fourth indictment and possibly even more criminal charges. Ron DeSantis shakes up his campaign, again. Donald Trump debates debating. And later, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stops by to talk about the one year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act and everything happening on Capitol Hill. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Donald Trump threatens witnesses and attacks Jack Smith while his lawyer tests out some novel defense arguments on all five Sunday shows. Mike Pence says he’s open to testifying against Trump. Ron DeSantis finally admits that Joe Biden won the election. Then, Desiree Tims from Innovation Ohio joins to talk about the crucial abortion rights vote happening on Tuesday. And later, Elijah is back for another round of Take Appreciators. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.